President Emmanuel Macron, Minister of National Education and Youth Nicole Belloubet, and Minister Delegate for the Elderly and Disabled Fadila Khattabi visited the Blanche primary school in Paris on April 5th, 2024. They were also joined by the mayor of the 9th arrondissement of Paris, Delphine Burkli. This visit comes as part of Macron’s efforts to prioritize education in his second term. Macron aims to transform the public school system to ensure excellence in knowledge, promote civic values and authority, and create an active school environment that prioritizes well-being and empowerment for all students.
During his visit, Macron interacted with a class for elementary autism education and visited the academic laboratory for autism training within the school. He used this opportunity to confirm the implementation of reforms in teacher training for primary education, which had been announced over a year ago. The reforms include opening new pathways to prepare for teaching roles starting from the upcoming school year. The plan is to provide direct access to a master’s degree for prospective teachers, with a focus on practical and professional training. This reform challenges previous changes made in 2022, shifting teacher certification exams to the end of the third year of undergraduate studies.
The proposed reforms also explore the possibility of offering a paid training program for teachers under a public service status, with monthly salaries starting at 1,400 euros net in the first year and increasing to 1,800 euros net in the second year. While the reforms aim to streamline the path to becoming a qualified teacher, the requirement for a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of study remains in place. These changes aim to modernize teacher training and recruitment processes to meet the evolving needs of the education system and ensure a high standard of teaching quality in French schools.
Macron’s visit to the Blanche primary school highlights his commitment to education as a key priority in his second term. By engaging with students and discussing reforms with teachers and officials, Macron emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment for all students. The focus on educational excellence, civic values, and teacher training reforms reflects Macron’s vision for a transformed public school system that prioritizes the well-being and empowerment of students.
Overall, Macron’s visit to the Blanche primary school in Paris symbolizes his dedication to improving education in France and ensuring that the country’s public school system meets the needs of all students. By discussing teacher training reforms and highlighting the importance of civic values and knowledge acquisition, Macron underscores the importance of investing in education for the future of the country. The proposed changes aim to create a more efficient and professionalized system for training teachers, ultimately benefiting students and enhancing the quality of education in France.
